Buying at Auction

Do your "Homework"
Find out as much as possible about the property. The CWS website provides photos, a property description, terms of sale, property tax & assessment information, maps, plans, and other pertinent documents. We disseminate all the information we have about the property, but should not be regarded as a substitute for your own due diligence.

Inspect the Property
Take full advantage of any pre-auction Open Houses or Previews offered. At auction, you are buying property "as is, with all faults." Personal inspection lets you see what you will be bidding on. This first hand knowledge may play an important role in helping you determine the value and desirability of the property. Land only parcels may be viewed at your convenience.

Prequalify for Financing
Real estate auctions for the U.S. Department of Treasury are cash sales. Buyers are responsible for obtaining their own financing. If you plan to use financing to purchase a property, it is important to pre-qualify with a lender. This can be done even before you have a specific property in mind. Knowledge of mortgage financing qualifications will help you determine the amount you're able to pay for any property, increasing your comfort level and allowing you to bid with confidence.

Attend an Auction
Check the CWS web site, local newspapers, or join our free email list to locate auctions in your area. The auctions are free and open to the public. To familiarize yourself with the process before you participate as a bidder, it may be helpful to first attend one or more auctions as an observer. Auctions happen quickly, so it's important to know what to expect.

Register to Bid
In order to participate/bid at auctions, a bidder registration card must be filled out at the auction location. Bidders must be over 18 years of age and have a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport in order to register. Once the card is filled out, a bidder number will be issued. Registration is free, and catalogs are available at preview and sale locations.

Selling at Auction

Decision to Sell
Based on the property specifics, you and CWS experts will decide whether your property is appropriate for sale at auction. We will also recommend an appropriate venue and possible sale timing. If you decide to proceed, you will sign a listing agreement, and CWS will create the marketing plan.

Auction Marketing Expertise
CWS principals and employees have more than 70 years cumulative experience in helping clients with the marketing and sale of a wide variety of assets. CWS' auction marketing expertise, experience across thousands of transactions of real estate scenarios for sale, selling strategies and new technology offer a complete solution for customers.

We Connect Your Property to Qualified Buyers
We know how to design strategies that work. CWS develops aggressive marketing strategies to target prospective buyers with the resources to purchase the properties offered for sale. Advertising campaigns are carefully orchestrated using a combination of print and Internet advertising. We have leveraged cutting-edge technology to expand our buyer base worldwide. CWS can conduct traditional, Internet and simulcast auctions allowing buyers from anywhere in the world to participate in an event.

Benefits to Sellers
Some of the advantages of selling your property at auction include:

• Buyers come prepared to buy
• Exposes the property to a large number of pre-qualified prospects
• Accelerates the sale
• Creates competition among buyers - auction price can exceed the price of a negotiated sale
• Requires potential buyers to pre-qualify for financing
• The seller knows exactly when the property will sell
• Eliminates numerous and unscheduled showings
• Ensures an aggressive marketing program that increases interest and visibility

Online Auction Venue
CWS provides an online venue for Sellers to list assets for sale and for Buyers to locate assets for sale. Assets to sell include:

• multiple real properties
• inventory sales
• large/bulk items